H.R. 583 would amend the Public Health Service Act to make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly.
Detailed Summary
Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards to ensure the safety and accuracy of medical imaging studies and radiation therapy treatments. Imposes such standards on personnel who perform, plan, or evaluate, or verify patient doses for, medical imaging studies and radiation therapy procedures and not on the equipment used. Exempts physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Directs the Secretary to ensure that individuals demonstrate compliance with such standards.
Requires the Secretary to provide a method for the recognition of individuals whose training and experience are determined to equal or exceed that of: (1) a graduate of an accredited educational program in that specialty; or (2) an individual who is regularly eligible to take the licensure or certification examination for that discipline.
Directs the Secretary to certify qualified nonprofit organizations as approved bodies to provide accreditation to individuals that demonstrate compliance with such standards unless the Secretary determines otherwise. Requires the Secretary to establish a process by which a state may appeal such a determination.
Requires individuals who provide medical imaging services relating to mammograms to continue to meet standards under the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992.
Deems state standards for licensure or certification of personnel, accreditation of educational programs, or administration of examinations to be in compliance with the standards under this Act.
Requires the Secretary to ensure that all programs under the authority of the Secretary meet such standards.
Authorizes the Secretary to develop alternative standards for rural areas or health professional shortage areas as appropriate to assure access to quality medical imaging.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 2/2/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
cmac
I HAVE NO COMMENT
Nancy Moureau
As a Vascular Access Specialist and one who uses ultrasound to place PICCs (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters) I see this bill as one that will create problems with a practice area that is currently improving because of the addition of ultrasound guidance. Ultrasound is a very low risk procedure with sound waves that pose no harm to the patient. Using ultrasound to assist in placement of intravenous catheters reduces the risk to patients. Placement of catheters is done by physicians, nurses, nurse and physician practitioners, radiological technologists and others. Since the majority of intravenous devices are placed by nurses, an exemption in this bill should be made for nurses performing vascular access procedures.
Nancy Moureau, BSN, CRNI
Hartwell, GA
JWEBB
THIS BILL IS TO PROTECT CHILDRED
FROM GETTING EXCESSIVE RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATION ALSO. WITH C.T.
AND X-RAY. IT ISN'T JUST FOR ULTRASOUND. NUCLEAR MEDICINE. WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED A LIFE CHANGING EVENT BECAUSE OF OVEREXPOSURE TO RADIATION I CONSIDER IT TO BE AS LEATHEL AT A GUN.